Is a harsh winter coming?

No, we didn’t need to consult The Farmer’s Almanac. It will be a cold, snowy winter because the uneasy truce enjoyed with the neighborhood squirrels has been torn (likely chewed) up. What’s left of the garden with tiny teeth marks all over. Though winter is coming, this does not mean that gardening is over. You can do much to prepare for next spring and even get some seeds planted if you hurry.

Fall and Winter Gardening

Most people don’t think about starting a garden in September and October. Still, there are many types of root vegetables and hearty, cool-weather plants that grow well or even thrive in wintery weather. If your goal is not to harvest, you might choose to plant crops like rye, wheat, and buckwheat to maintain your soil and defend against weeds later. Other plants like broccoli, cabbage, beets, carrots, and collards can withstand cold and snow for a while. If you’d like garlic next year, you should be planting it between October and November. Whatever you grow, be sure to water plants if they have not received moisture in a month as long as the soil isn’t frozen. Don’t forget your trees and shrubs when you water, too.

Preparing for Next Year

If you are more interested in spending the winter hitting the slopes or even kicking it by a fire with a barleywine, use this time to prepare for next spring. Here is a quick checklist of things you can do to feel productive before the flakes start flying.

1. Superior Soil

The key to a bountiful garden is excellent soil. Still, too many organic nutrients can play just as much havoc on your harvest as lousy soil. Before you add what you think your soil needs, get a soil test. A soil test at Colorado State University is far less of a cost than a bunch of fancy soil that might not help those tomatoes look any better.

2. Considering Compost

Compost is a great way to incorporate nutrients into a depleted garden, but adding it in the soil can make your soil too rich. Again, consider testing the ground to understand exactly what your garden needs. As an alternative, we might use the compost as a surface covering mulch.

3. To prune or not to prune?

Is that even a question? Well, yeah. Most folks will look to trim back vegetation before the snow, but perennials and shrubs often serve as wintering dens and nest for little creatures. I’d much rather have those critters in my yarrow than my house.

Don’t let La Niña stop you from setting yourself for a great garden next year or even enjoying some late season vegetation. If I play my card right, maybe next year, I’ll have plenty more to share, even with those pesky squirrels.